Mother of shot cop presents petition to Parliament
The mother of a policeman who was shot and killed in the line of duty has presented a petition to MPs requesting that those who are convicted of murdering police officers be ineligible for parole.
Diane Hunt, mother of 28-yearold Constable Matthew Hunt, launched the campaign in July after her son was shot while carrying out a routine traffic stop in West Auckland on June 19.
‘‘The reason for my petition is simple,’’ Hunt said at the Parliamentary forecourt yesterday.
‘‘Matthew’s death is a sobering reminder of the daily sacrifice our police officers make to ensure we can continue to live our lives in the manner in which we are accustomed: that should we need them, they will come,’’ she said.
‘‘I believe the laws as they currently stand do not adequately condemn such acts against our police, especially those that result in death.
‘‘Our laws should reflect community expectations: if you kill a police officer in this country – those who protect and serve us – you will receive a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no parole.’’
The petition requests changes to the Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002. It received 39,286 signatures.
The campaign calls individuals convicted for of
murdering a police officer to receive a mandatory life sentence and have their parole eligibility automatically declined.
It was received by Police Minister Poto Williams and National MP Mark Mitchell.
Hunt asked them to use it as a reminder of the fallen constable and the other New Zealand police officers who have been killed while on the job.
‘‘Thirty-three police officers have been killed in the line of duty in New Zealand, beginning with Constable Neil McLeod in 1890 and most recently with the death of my son, Matthew,’’ she said.
Currently those convicted of murder are eligible for parole after 10 years in prison, or when their court-imposed minimum non-parole period ends.